This little-known mountain range is one of the gems of Tanzania. Lying north of the Korogwe-Tanga road, the Usambara’s are a relict patch of the great tropical forests that once spanned Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, and have more in common with the forests of West Africa than those of the east side of the continent. The Usambaras are a treasure house of botanical and zoological diversity, with a huge number of endemic tree and plant species. Although large tracts of the original forests have been leveled for coffee and tea planting, enough of the original wilderness remains to make this a hiking, birding and primate-spotting paradise.

There are two main entry points to the forests: From Lushoto in the west, and Amani in the east. Lushoto is reached by branching off the main north-south highway at Mombo and heading up a spine-chiller of a pass, while Amani is reached by turning off the Tanga -Korogwe road at Muheza, and following the spectacular dirt road that winds up through a series of hairpin bends into some of the most beautiful scenery in East Africa. Birders will want to keep eyes open for three species endemic to the Usambara forests – the Naduk eagle owl, Usambara alethe and the Usambara weaver. This is one of the best places in East Africa to see notable birds like the green-headed oriole, Amani sunbird, bar-tailed and Narina trogons and Fischer’s turaco. Amani was once a resort for holidaying German officials, and there is a basic guesthouse and a campsite set amidst the spectacular forest.